Revolt across the Middle East and North Africa

By Harry Hagopian

February 21, 2011

Did it start with Tunisia earlier this year, or was it Iran that inspired the trend in 2009 or perhaps even Lebanon as far back as 2005? Was Egypt an isolated albeit epic event or is it one that truly connects the dots in a region riddled with all forms of injustice? How come 'people power' has suddenly re-awakened across the Middle East and North Africa region?

This podcast (http://www.catholicchurch.org.uk/egypt-post-uprising), an informal conversation (or a jalse in Arabic) with James Abbott at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, attempts to set the context for what is happening in the region today, how it affects its peoples and how religion and politics interplay - let alone how it influences the interests of the West.

Please bear in mind that this interview was done before some of the most recent developments in Libya, Bahrain and Morocco.

(c) CBCEW and the author. Harry Hagopian is an international lawyer, ecumenist and EU political consultant. He also acts as a Middle East and inter-faith advisor to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and as Middle East consultant to ACEP (Christians in Politics) in Paris, and he is a regular Ekklesia contributor (http://www.ekklesia.co.ukHarryHagopian). Formerly, he was Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Committee and Executive Director of the Middle East Council of Churches. His own website is www.epektasis.net

Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here.